LETTER | The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) notes that much is being done to help various sectors in the country recover after a long pause in economic activity under the movement control order (MCO) and controlled MCO. The stimulus packages and the recently launched National Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana) were well received and will benefit many sectors. However, one of the most important sectors greatly needing assistance is our country's healthcare.

A total of about 3,500 junior doctors may not be offered permanent positions in government healthcare facilities, putting their careers on the edge of a knife. This is despite a significant number of them currently serving as frontliners in the fight against Covid-19.

In March, about 1,500 housemen received their contract for two years of compulsory service in the government on Grade UD41 without any extension. Those medical officers (MOs) with UD41 contracts do not enjoy the same benefits as their UD43 permanent counterparts.  UD41 MOs earn much less than the UD43 and UD44 MOs.

What is more worrying is the uncertainty that contract MOs are facing. Where will they go after they complete their two-year contract of compulsory service? There are no permanent positions to serve as MOs in government healthcare facilities. They can't join local university Masters programmes for specialisation as they are not given fully-paid study leave. If they opt for specialisation, they will need four years of training after housemanship which is impossible with the short-term contract. Private healthcare will also not be an option as there are limited opportunities.

The MMA had sent a proposal to the government to extend the contract for MOs to 10 years (UD43/44 for 2 years, UD 47/48 for 8 years) with UD54 grade offered if they qualify as a specialist, and with a 5-year bond at the end of their contract to improve access to specialist services for the rakyat. Alternatively, a permanent medical post can be offered with EPF contributions to ensure these junior doctors be given a fair chance to continue their service to the country.

The MMA also met with Health Minister Dr Adham Baba and deputy minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali on the proposal in March and the Ministry assured us they will look into the matter. The MMA also recently wrote to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on these issues, as well as to the Senior Ministers.

The MMA is of the opinion that we need to lift the moratorium on new positions for the Health Ministry. The issue of contract workers has now been extended to all levels of healthcare workers. We need permanent positions. The growth projections of the population must be met with an accompanying increase of permanent MOs to meet the healthcare needs of the country.

It is hoped that as we are now in the recovery phase of the Covid-19 outbreak, the government will look into addressing these issues. We have learned a painful lesson with the Covid-19 situation that healthcare must be a top priority to ensure that we continue have among the best healthcare systems in the world.

The writer is president of the Malaysian Medical Association.